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Organize Kitchen Cabinets By Making a Sliding
Shelf
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For dark kitchen cabinets, an illuminated, sliding shelf is
an ideal solution. You pull out the shelf like a drawer,
then push it back in when you've found what you were looking
for. Installing or making a kitchen cabinet organizer is
easier than you think.
To begin with, a sliding shelf is easy
to install into your existing kitchen cabinets. Store bought sliding
shelves are expensive and come in fixed sizes. But making
your own sliding shelf will give you the flexibility of
building a custom size that’s right for your kitchen
cabinet, while saving money. No woodworking experience is
needed. Just follow this simple tutorial for making your own
kitchen cabinet sliding shelf.
Step #1. Measurements
The sliding shelf you will build will be customized to your
kitchen cabinet. Begin by measuring your kitchen cabinet
width, length and depth. Decide how many shelves you wish to
install in the space, depending on the height. The width and
depth measurements will determine the size of the shelf.
Step #2.
Sliding Shelf Hardware
Your sliding shelf will glide back and forth on simply
drawer slides. These can be bought online by googling:
Drawer Slides. Let your depth measurements guide your choice
of drawer slides. You will need a slide for each side of one
sliding shelf. If you decide to install two shelves,
remember to buy two sets of slides.
Typically drawer slides
are about 2/3 of the length of the shelf they support. Do
not proceed with buying the shelf until you have the drawer
slides. Measure the drawer slides to see how thick they are
when installed. If they are 2 inches thick, then be sure to
reduce your shelf width measurement by 4 inches (2 on the
right, 2 on the left).
Step #3.
Sliding Shelf Size
Your shelf will be made from hardwood. At your lumber or
home improvement store have the wood cut to the width and
depth measurements of your kitchen cabinet (don’t forget to
take the slides into account).
If you want your shelf to
have a rim, like a real drawer, buy 2x4 wood and have it cut
to the width and length of your shelf, then hammer them in
the shape of a square border over your shelf.
Step #4.
Sliding Shelf Installation
Install the drawer slides on your sliding shelf and inside
the kitchen cabinet following the instructions that will
come with the drawer slides. Be sure not to confuse the
right and left sides during installation, or the slides
won’t fit. You can paint your sliding shelf to make it more
durable, or coat it with wallpaper.
Step #5.
Sliding Shelf Illumination
Even though you sliding shelf will slide out of the cabinet,
allowing the kitchen lighting to illuminate the contents of
your shelf, you might enjoy additional cabinet illumination
Wireless LED lights (such as Pelion Lights) are ideal for
the purpose.
Simply stick them to the door of the cabinet
with the shelf-adhesive that comes with the lights. Even
better, choose Motion Activated lights, so the light can
come on the moment you open the cabinet door.
Your sliding shelf will make your kitchen cabinets fun and
functional. Add more innovative kitchen upgrades from
painting your old appliances with stainless steel, to
upgrading your kitchen light fixtures with faux Tiffany
lamps, by following these ideas for
easy cosmetic kitchen
upgrades. And turn your kitchen into a warm gathering place
with a few
whimsical kitchen decor ideas, from rooster decor
to apples, sunflowers and much more.
Comments? Questions?
Drop me a
line.
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